revised SP001 standard

April 25, 2018

The industry standard SP001 is incorporated into many Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans is now updated.  How does it affect your facility’s SPCC Plan?

The Steel Tank Institute (STI) recently released an updated version of SP001 – Standard for the Inspection of Aboveground Storage Tanks. This document is the industry standard used in most SPCC Plans for inspection guidelines and integrity testing for shop-fabricated aboveground storage tanks. In a typical SPCC Plan prepared by SCS Engineers, your monthly and annual inspection forms, and tank integrity testing frequency requirements are based on the criteria provided in SP001.

Summary of Key SPCC-related Items in the Revised SP001 Standard:

• Monthly and annual inspection forms have been updated.
• The inspection forms include revised questions that should help facility staff with improved clarity on inspection criteria.
• The inspection forms have been reformatted, and the length of the forms has been reduced.
• The integrity testing inspection schedule and evaluation criteria remain consistent with the previous SP001 edition.
• There is a new appendix with guidance aimed at inspection of hot-mix asphalt tanks.

Do you need to amend your SPCC Plan because of this revised industry standard?

No.  We recommend incorporating the updated inspection forms during your next SPCC Plan Amendment or 5-year renewal.

How do the changes affect the implementation of your SPCC Plan?

The inspection criteria have been simplified, and more flexibility is allowed with the revised inspection forms. This will help make your inspection process easier and of higher quality.

Need help sorting out the details of the revised standard, or have an SPCC Plan that needs amending or is due for a 5-year review?  Contact , and we will help you stay on top of your SPCC needs with offices nationwide.

Brief SPCC-related document history:

• 2008 – Last update to the EPA’s SPCC rule (https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40cfr112_main_02.tpl)
• 2011 – SP001 5^th Edition issued
• 2013 – Revised EPA SPCC guidance document issued (https://www.epa.gov/oil-spills-prevention-and-preparedness-regulations/spcc-guidance-regional-inspectors)
• 2018 – SP001 6^th Edition issued

Coauthors: Denise Wessels and Amber Fidler.
SCS Engineers SPCC specialists in Pennsylvania.